Life-preserver pillow



May 21, 1963 L. F. MORAN LIFE-PRESERVER PILLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1960 May 21, 1963 L. F. MORAN 3,090,054

LIFE-PRESERVER PILLOW Filed May 11, 1960 g Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ()fiFice 3,090,054 Patented May 21, 1963 3,090,054 LIFE-PRESERVER PILLOW Lawrence F. Moran, Wallacks Drive, Stamford, Conn. Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,349 Claims. (Cl. 9313) This invention relates generally to buoyant life-preserving devices and more particularly to a life-preserver pillow or cushion.

Life-saving devices such as buoyant cushions which function as a life-belt are well known. However, in these known devices the device, as for example, a cushion or pillow, is specially constructed to act as a life-preserver or as an anti-rolling cushion. Such cushions may be of a simple form adapted to rest on the seat in back of the chair and readily removed therefrom and rapidly secured around the body in a manner similar to a life belt or life preserver. The cushions have sufficient buoy-- ancy to support the wearer when in the water.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a life-preserver pillow or cushion simple to manufacture and which makes use of a conventional or standard life preserver of the jacket type without need of forming or manufacturing the cushion parts specifically to form a life-preserver.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover which can be used with a standard life-preserver of the jacket type with the life preserver in a normal folded condition for storage to form a buoy-ant life-saving cushion or pillow.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a life-preserver pillow by which the necessity for storage space for life-preservers is decreased since conventional approved life preservers form the cushions and therefore are readily available without need of storage in the usual restricted spaces and are not stuffed away and hard to find. The space generally required for storage of preservers thereby is freed making additional space available for boat owners and allows regulation requirements as to the number of life preservers on board to be met without storage loss.

The life-preserver pillow or cushion according to the invention is a novel combination of a conventional, standard life preserver of the jacket type, as for example a Coast Guard approved life preserver, and a decorative cover provided with internal padding suitably disposed for filling pockets formed between the cover and the life preserver thereby to form a pillow or cushion usable as a back or head rest. The cover is provided with a quick-release means to allow fast removal of the life preserver from the cover in the event of an emergency.

Other features and advantages of the life-preserver pillow in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specification and appended claims, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a life-preserver pillow or cushion according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the cushion shown in FIG. 1 with a side of the cover removed illustrating the manner in which a life preserver of the jacket type in a normal folded condition is disposed forming a pillow or cushion;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation back side view of the pillow or cushion in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the back side cover removed and is taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the cushion according to the invention with an upper portion of the front cover removed illustrating the use of a cover according to the present invention in combination with a conventional life-preserver of the jacket type having a collar;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation view of the back side of the life-preserver cushion according to the invention and is taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings a life-preserver cushion 1 according to the invention consists of a conventional or standard life-preserver 2 of the jacket type in a normal folded condition for storage. The life preserver or life jacket 2 is of the known type filled with kapox, rubberized hair or other suitable material and is buoyant adapted to have sufficient buoyancy to maintain a wearer of a given weight buoyant in the water for a predetermined time in the known manner. Preferably the life jacket is of the Coast Guard approved type and is provided with the known harness lacing or securing means, not shown, in the usual manner.

The life jacket 2 is, of course, made for adult use or for children. In assembly into a cushion or pillow the life jacket is folded in a conventional manner in which it is folded for normal storage.

In order to form the life-preserver cushion according to the invention a decorative, removable case or cover 3 receives and holds the life jacket in a folded condition and jointly therewith forms a substantially rectangular pillow or cushion in a manner later herein described.

The life preserver 2 is inserted in a folded condition into the cover 3 through an end opening 4 which is closed by quick-opening means comprising a flap 5 provided with a plurality of quick release elements such as carriage snaps 6 or is held with a tape, for example, the commercial product known as vel-cro, for easy removal of the cover by yanking the flap 5 open and removing the life jacket therefrom. The cover is made of a suitable, decorative, wear-resistant material such as denim, ticking, duck, sail cloth or the life and the material may be Waterproofed if desired. For ease of handling as a compact parcel the cover is provided with a suitable strap handle 7 so that the cushion can be transported readily aboard a boat or to and on the beach.

It is readily apparent that the cushion 1 is buoyant and can carry out a life preserving function in an assembled state or by having the life preserver 2 withdrawn from the cover 3 or the cushion in its entirety can be thrown into the water in the event of an emergency and the life preserver withdrawn from the cover once the cushion is in the water.

The cover 3 is provided with a plurality of padding elements later herein described, internally thereof suitably disposed for filling pockets formed between the cover and the life preserver thereby to jointly form a substantially rectangular pillow or cushion. The life jacket 2 has a pair of front panels or chest portions 211, 2b and a back panel or portion 20. In a normal folded condition the chest portion 2b overlies the back portion 20. The chest portion 2a reversably folds over and overlies the chest portion 211 forming a parcel in which the securing means, not shown, of the life jacket are tucked in between the folded portions.

A pair of side pads 9, -10 which are stitched or otherwise secured in position on the inner surfaces of their respective sides 3a, 3b of the cover 3 fill in side pockets formed between the chest portions 2a, 2b and the sides 3a, 3b of the cover 3. A substantially triangular front pad '11 is stitched or otherwise secured to the front inner surformed between the'collar lfia and the cover;

faces of the front side 3c of the cover and is shaped to fill a front pocket formed between the life jacket front portions 2a, 2b and the front side 30 of the cover. A backside p-ad 1 2 is attached to the inner lower surface of the back side 3d of thecover and fills a pocket formed between the lower portion of the back panel or back portion 2c of the life jacket 2 and cover 3.

In this manner the life jacket in combination with the cover forms a substantially rectangular cushion or pillow.

The various pads are preferably formed of a suitable resilient material as for example foam rubber or of a suitable cotton batting quilted or otherwise arranged to form a pad and suitably covered preferably with a water repellant material. The pads are shapedand their position is selected according to the pocket that is to be filled in. It will be understood that some of the pads may be omitted depending upon the configuration of the foldedjacket. Generally at least side pads are required. Moreover'thc cas'e'or cover 3 is constructed to allow easy insertion and removal of the life jacket when the flap 5 is in an open condition even though the various pads are attached to the cover. Moreover, the pads fit in substantially snugly in the various pockets fitting them once the cover is pulled up around the jacket by closing the flap.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6-8 in which a cushion is formed from a life jacket 16 in a case or cover 17 provided with a flap 18, a handle '19 and closure means 26 which are operative in a manner similar to the first embodiment of the invention. The life jacket 16 is of the type having a collar 16a and two chest panels 16b,;16c and a back panel or portion 16d. The life jacket is disposed within the cover 17 in the normal folded condition in which it is usually stored in readiness for use.

The cover 17 is provided with a pair of pads 21, 22 disposed or attached to the inner side panels 17a, 17b of the cover as shown. The side pads 21, 2.2 are shaped to fill pockets formed between the life jacket16 and have upper portions 21a, 22:: respectively shaped to fill the pockets A front pad 24 is attached on the inner side of the upper portion of the -front side 17a of the cover to fill a' pocket 25 of the collar so that the life jacket is shaped into a substantially rectangular parcel usable as a cushion or pillow as indicated heretofore.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is 'in no Way limited to these embodiments and that many changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. Means usable in combination with a conventional wearable buoyant life preserver when in its normal folded condition for storage, for converting the life preserver to a pillow or back rest comprising, a removable cover encasing the life preserver and holding the life preserver in said folded condition for storage, a plurality of buoyant pads in said cover attached internally of the cover disposed in respectivev position to form in conjunction with said life preserver a configuration of a buoyant plllow and shaped for filling pockets formed between the cover and life preserver in said respective positions of the pads,

' and said cover having quick-opening means for quickly comprising, a removable cover encasing the life preserver and holding the life preserveriri said condition for storage, at least one buoyant pad in said cover attached internally of the cover disposed in position to form in conjunction with said life preserver a configuration of a buoyant pillow and shaped for filling a cavity formed between the cover and life preserver and substantially corresponding in configuration to said pad, and said cover having quick-opening means for quickly opening the cover to remove the life preserver therefrom.

3. Means usable in combination with a conventional wearable buoyant life preserver when in its normal condition for storage, for converting the life preserver to a pilvlow or back rest comprising, a decorative, removable cover encasing the life preserver and holding the life preserver in said condition for storage, a plurality of buoyant pads attached internally of the cover disposed low or back rest comprising, a decorative, removable I cover encasing the life preserver and holding the life preserver in said condition for storage, a plurality of pads attached internally of the cover disposed in respective positions to form in conjunction with said life preserver a substantially rectangular pillow and shaped for filling pockets formed between the cover and life preserver, said pads comprising a pair of pads on opposite internal side surfaces of the cover, a pad on an upper front side internal surface of the cover, and said cover having quick-opening means for quickly opening the cover to remove the life preserver therefrom.

5 In combination with a conventional wearable, buoyant life preserver in a normal folded condition for storage, a removable cover for converting the life preserver to a pillow or back rest, said removable cover being disposed encasing. the life preserver and holding the life preserver in said folded condition, a plurality of buoyant, water repellant pads in said cover attached internally of the cover disposed in respective positions to form in conjunction with said life preserver a configuration of a buoyant pillow and shaped for filling pockets formed between the cover and life preserver in said respective positions of the pads, and said cover having quick-opening means for quickly opening the cover to remove the life preserver therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,282,908 Thompson May 12, 1942 2,467,037 Kajdan Apr. 12, 1949 2,609,549 Krupp Sept. 9, 1952 2,651,485 Schutz Sept. 8, 1953 2,803,023 Rosenberg Aug. 20, 1957 2,863,487 Shiner Dec. 9, 1958 2,971,640 Snelling Feb. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 599,997 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1948 560,492 Canada July 15, 1958 332,343 Switzerland Oct. 15, 1958 

1. MEANS USABLE IN COMBINATION WITH A CONVENTIONAL WEARABLE BUOYANT LIFE PRESERVER WHEN IN ITS NORMAL FOLDED CONDITION FOR STORAGE, FOR CONVERTING THE LIFE PRESERVER TO A PILLOW OR BACK REST COMPRISING, A REMOVABLE COVER ENCASING THE LIFE PRESERVER AND HOLDING THE LIFE PRESERVER IN SAID FOLDED CONDITION FOR STORAGE, A PLURALITY OF BUOYANT PADS IN SAID COVER ATTACHED INTERNALLY OF THE COVER DISPOSED IN RESPECTIVE POSITION TO FORM IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID LIFE PRESERVER A CONFIGURATION OF A BUOYANT PILLOW AND SHAPED FOR FILLING POCKETS FORMED BETWEEN THE COVER AND LIFE PRESERVER IN SAID RESPECTIVE POSITIONS OF THE PADS, 